Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Release #256-00

MAYOR GIULIANI WELCOMES COMPETITORS FOR THE 85th ANNUAL
NATHAN'S FAMOUS 4th OF JULY lNTERNATlONAL HOT DOG EATING
CONTEST TO CITY HALL

Competitors Seeking Coveted Mustard Yellow International
Belt
Arrive At City Hall for Official Weigh-In

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today welcomed the competitors in this year's Nathan's
Famous 4th of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest to City Hall, where
he officiated at the official weigh-in ceremonies.

Tomorrow, July 4th, competitors from around the world will gather at high noon
outside Nathan's Famous, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney
Island, to compete in the World Cup of Competitive Eating - the 85th Annual
Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year's winner and
reigning International Hot Dog Eating Champion, Steve Keiner of Egg Harbor,
NJ, holds the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt. While Mr. Keiner won
a decisive victory last year, many believe Japanese hot dog eating champion
Kazutoyo Arai, who weighed in last year at only 101 pounds, should prove to
be a worthy opponent.

"It's an honor to welcome some of the world's greatest 'athletes' to City
Hall today for their official weigh-in before they compete tomorrow in the 85th
Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island,"
said Mayor Giuliani. "This event has grown to international proportions,
with competitors coming from around the world. This year's competition will
be an event not to be missed, with reigning champion Steve Keiner set to defend
his title against Kazutoyo Arai of Japan for the coveted Mustard Yellow International
Belt. As Mayor of the Hot Dog Capital of the World, I want to wish all the competitors
the best of luck in this year's competition."

There will be 18 competitors in addition to Keiner and Arai participating in
this year's competition, among them: world haggis eating champion Barry Noble
of England; schweinhaxe (pig shank) eating champion Marcus Steinhoff of Hanover,
Germany; Chris Eyre of Vancouver, BC; Ms. Takako Akasaka of Japan; Mr. Fujita
of Japan; former American champion "Hungry" Charles Hardy of Brooklyn;
"Kid" Cary DeGrosa of Las Vegas, NV; and Syd "Mongo" Goldstein
of New Rochelle, NY.